Uhhh the beans aren't supposed to be hot in my BBB, just the brine is heated and then poured over the beans which are packed into hot jars. Maybe you mis-read?

Use this set of instructions from NCHFP.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Dilled Greed Beans

Greed Beans

I like that Dave. They are darned good and Freudian slip or not, it fits.

I lay the jar on the side and fill with the raw beans then turn upright and pour over the hot brine. I get a nice-looking pack with a lot less effort.

Just be sure not to cram too many beans into one jar. You want the brine to circulate around.

Carol

Seriously? seriously.. **checks book**

Ok.. I have the "Complete Book of Home Preserving" by Ball. Dilled Beans recipe: page 308

Step 2:
combine salt, vinegar and water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Stirring to dissolve salt. Add green and yellow beans and red peppers. Return to a boil. Remove from heat.

Well I'm glad I only did 2 jars. Processing time was 10 minutes. Would raw pack go for 20 minutes?

erf.. never mind.. I see the NCHFP recipe says 10... darn.. wish I saw that one before I did all that (annoying) work

I raw pack and process per the NCHFP standard. Pre-heating the beans in the brine and then processing for that long sounds like a recipe for limp pickles to me.

It did seem really odd to me.. but I followed the book because .. well I am always hesitant to vary from the published materials.

If I were making that recipe (and it does sound good) I'd follow the recommendation for cut beans and just pour them into the jar willy-nilly. They'd taste just as good at service.

I think the problem is trying to use that recipe for whole beans and trying to achieve an attractive pack.

Carol

Could you sub pickling spice or dried dill for the fresh dill in the NCHFP recipe?

You can always sub dried for fresh herbs and seasonings but the problem is the measurement - they are totally different amounts. How much dried would you use?

Dave

Thanks Dave. I am just trying to learn what CAN be changed since so many things are different. I bought a new book last year, but I was looking back at an old one. Thanks for always being so helpful.

A standard substitution for a head of fresh dill is a tsp of dill seed, rather than dried dill leaf.